Department of Biological Sciences, School of Basic Sciences, Njala University, PMB, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Jun 18;24(1):453. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05888-9.
School truancy, deliberately skipping school without permission, is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences for individual students, education systems, and entire communities. While this phenomenon is not unique to Sierra Leone, the specific context of the post-conflict nation raises concerns about its potential impact on the country's fragile rebuilding process. This study examines the prevalence and predictors of school truancy among adolescents in Sierra Leone.
The study analysed the cross-sectional 2017 Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) data in Sierra Leone, a nationally representative survey conducted among adolescents aged 10-19 years using a multistage sampling methodology. A weighted sample of 2,769 adolescents in Sierra Leone was included in the study. A multivariable binary regression analysis was used to examine the predictors of school truancy among adolescents. The regression results were presented using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
The prevalence of school truancy was 35% among adolescents in Sierra Leone. Adolescents who use alcohol (AOR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.45, 3.58) and who have ever had sexual intercourse (AOR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.10, 2.53) had higher odds of being associated with school truancy. Adolescents who planned suicide (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.36, 0.93) and whose parents did not intrude on their privacy (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.45, 0.97) had lower odds of being associated with school truancy.
School truancy is a critical issue in Sierra Leone, demanding multi-pronged interventions at policy and practice levels. Addressing underlying causes like alcohol use, sexual behaviour, planned suicide, and parent's intrusion of privacy is crucial. Key strategies include fostering positive school environments, providing mental health support, and improving parent-child communication.
逃学，即未经允许故意旷课，是一个对学生个人、教育系统和整个社区都有深远影响的复杂问题。虽然逃学现象在塞拉利昂并不罕见，但这个后冲突国家的具体情况令人担忧，因为它可能会对该国脆弱的重建进程产生影响。本研究旨在调查塞拉利昂青少年逃学的流行程度和预测因素。
本研究分析了 2017 年在塞拉利昂进行的全国代表性青少年 10-19 岁的横断面全球学校健康调查（GSHS）数据。采用多阶段抽样方法进行调查。本研究纳入了塞拉利昂 2769 名青少年的加权样本。采用多变量二项回归分析来研究青少年逃学的预测因素。回归结果以调整后的比值比（AOR）和 95%置信区间（CI）表示。
塞拉利昂青少年逃学的流行率为 35%。饮酒的青少年（AOR=2.28，95%CI=1.45，3.58）和有过性行为的青少年（AOR=1.67，95%CI=1.10，2.53）更有可能逃学。有自杀计划的青少年（AOR=0.58，95%CI=0.36，0.93）和父母不干涉其隐私的青少年（AOR=0.66，95%CI=0.45，0.97）逃学的可能性较低。
逃学在塞拉利昂是一个严重的问题，需要在政策和实践层面采取多方面的干预措施。解决饮酒、性行为、自杀计划和父母侵犯隐私等根本原因至关重要。关键策略包括营造积极的学校环境、提供心理健康支持和改善亲子沟通。
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